They Called Him Assassin

"I like to believe that my best hits border on felonious assault."

Jack Tatum

A loyal Raiders Soldier has passed away today and the Nation mourns him. Jack Tatum, who played for the Oakland Raiders from 1971-1979 died this morning at a hospital in Oakland, Ca., after suffering a heart attack.

I met him once prior to a Raiders game at the Oakland Coliseum. Even as a man in his mid 50's he still had the look and physique of a player. Known simply as "The Assassin," Tatum still remains as one of the hardest hitting safety's ever to have played in the NFL.

Many will remember him as one of the Raiders who were referred to by then commissioner Pete Rozelle as part of the "criminal element" in the NFL. But the truth of it all is that The Assassin only knew how to play the game one way, and that way was physical and tough.

So whenever you see the classic clip of the most controversial play in NFL History where Steelers running back Franco Harris catches a deflected ball in stride and scores the winning touchdown on the last play of an AFC playoff game, know that that play was the result of a crushing Assassin hit.

John David Tatum
(November 18, 1948 - July 27, 2010)

















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